Last chance to bid on 'Art from the Heart' this week at The Gibby Center in Middletown

Thursday

Aug 22, 2013 at 1:39 PM

Free closing reception Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. features music, wine, and hors d'oeuvres. See a photo gallery with more scenes from the Gibby Center with this story, as "related content" at top left beside the story text, or in the "Our Photos" section with the "Music on Main" photo gallery.

Ben Mace

Visitors to the Gilbert Perry Jr. Center for the Arts Thursday and Friday will be able to bid on artwork and holiday gifts while helping the center and The Everett Theatre at the same time.

Paintings, photographs, stained glass, jewelry, and other hand-crafted items will be available – some at prices that are a steal -- for your collection, or as unique items for holiday gift giving.

"All the artwork is donated for this event," said Georgiana Trietley, the Everett Theatre board director for the Gibby Center. "It shows that artists in the community are participating to bring the arts to Middletown."

The free reception with the final chance to bid will feature music by classical guitarist Bill Kintzer, wine, and light hors d'oeuvres. Artist Craig Hoagland will drawing pencil portraits or caricatures for a small fee.

How the auction works

To bid in the silent auction, you register your name to receive a number. When bidding, only the number is used so no one knows who has the high bid. You can keep coming back to see if anyone has topped your bid and add a higher bid if you'd like until the end of the reception Friday when the winners of each piece will be announced.

Bidders who aren't able to attend the reception or can't stay until the end will be notified by phone or email if they have won an item.

A 'heart-y' new tradition

As a new feature to the "Art from the Heart" event, the Gibby Center is selling heart-shaped Christmas tree ornaments for $5. You can choose either a plain wooden heart to decorate yourself, or one that has already been decorated by a Gibby Center artist.

The ornaments will be used as decorations in the Festival of Trees event at the center in November. After the festival, you can pick up your ornament to take home.

"We hope people make it part of their family tradition to purchase a heart to put on their own tree," said Carolyn Zeitler, co-director of the Gibby Center's Hudson Contemporary gallery.

IF YOU GO

WHAT "Art from the Heart" silent auction

WHERE The Gilbert W. Perry Jr. Center for the Arts, 51 W. Main St., Middletown

WHEN Bidding continues Thursday and Friday during regular gallery hours from 12 to 5 p.m., with final bidding at the closing reception Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.

INFO www.everetttheatre.com/exhibits.php or www.thegibby.com or 449-5396